If you have ever been to a young life event in the United States, you know what a good thing it is for the kids of the community. Here in Granada, Vida Joven (young life) is a program that gives young people a place to go and “hang out” with other young people, while sharing God with them and a way to help raise up out of a generation that is being constantly bombarded with drugs, alcohol, and fighting. Our team has made friends with so many young lifers who come to the program each week (at El Puente). They have impacted our life just as much as Vida Joven has impacted their lives. Here is a testimony of one of our really good friends, Angel, whose life was changed through God and Vida Joven:
Before I found myself at Jesus’ feet, my life was chaos. The economic situation was really bad for my parents so they were always frustrated and angry and hit me with anything they could get their hands on. So at 10 I ran away to the streets where I got to know a new world full of HATE, DRUGS and brokenness. I joined a gang and lived in crime, which got me 2 years in prison when I was 14. 15 days after my release I got caught again but this time the sentence was longer because my crimes were bigger. When I turned 21 I started to get really desperate and one day when I was in JAIL CELL #6 I woke up and felt very anxious and depressed. I felt my heart screaming for liberty. The Enemy put in my mind that the only way out of this was by me taking my life. When I was about to do it, I felt a strange feeling in my heart, but this time it brought me to my knees and I said this prayer ” God if you really exist, take me out of here” I only promised that I would visit one of his churches if he did. He got me out of that jail 6 months later. No one could believe it. Not the guards and not the inmates since they knew that judge had sentenced me to serve the entire sentence for my past behavior. Five months later a person by the name of Daniel reminded me of my promise and invited me to the Young Life Club at El Puente. I didn’t want to go, but I went just to keep my end of the bargain. The Good Lord used that ministry to transform my life. I met Yener who is the leader of Young Life in Granada, who eventually invited me to a 4 day YL Camp in Jinotega. And those 4 days were the best days of the start of my new life in CHRIST. This was a new challenge, leaving the worldly pleasures of the flesh and giving all my life, my heart and my disposition to our creator. I am grateful to our Lord and Saviour that he put one of his ministries in my way, and especially my new brother in Christ, Yener, who was one of the tools that God used to get me out of the darkness I was in. I ‘ve just finished an electrician’s course and started High School again, and have some side jobs. I am also a leader in Young Life and with the testimony and what Jesus did in my life, I’m helping out kids, showing them the power of our God.
Not only is Vida Joven life changing, it also brings all these kids (from different backgrounds, different family life, different places) together under one roof- hangingout, singing, playing games. I’ve seen alot of peoples lives change through Young Life and I hope to continue experiencing it!
We are having a 5K Race coming up (which we are planning and hosting) in Granada, to help raise money for Vida Joven (since it gets no outside support)- coming up on April 10. If you are interested in helping out with support, please see my blog titled Vida Joven 5K Race- Sponsorship options. Thank you so much and please continue to pray for us.
